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Six to 10 years, that’s how long the Hays family expects the
850-acre, multifaceted development of Hays Farm to take.

Jim Hays, John Hays and Jeff Enfinger, the owners of the
property, were on hand Thursday night to highlight the details of the project
to a packed house in the Martha deFord Hays Auditorium at Grissom High School.

“For 49 years we’ve been developing communities for people
in North Alabama, this is the first time we’ve ever put our name on one,” John
Hays said.

John Hays talks about the importance of the Hays Farm Development.

The development will eventually consist of about 1,000
residential units, three parks and see of new commercial spaces along with the
redevelopment of Haysland Square, according to Enfinger.

The first part of the commercial aspect of the development
is to raze Haysland Square and develop 175,000 to 200,000 square feet of new
commercial space.

“It’s under contract now with a Florida developer who has
developed here and we hope to have an announcement this Fall where that center
would be redone next year and it would be upscale, walkable and pretty,”
Enfinger said.

Enfinger added that they were working with Staples, the only
retail store left in the current development.

“We’re providing space for Staples,” Enfinger said. “We have
to cut a deal and they have to agree to it, but we’re going to make every
effort to keep Staples.”

Jeff Enfinger gives an overview of the master plan for the Hays Farm development

It is expected to take five years before developers get back
to the center housing Home Depot and a development north of Mike’s Merchandise,
according to Enfinger.

“We’ve got three opportunities to develop and redevelop the
high-volume, high-traffic commercial areas,” he said.

The first 500 units of residential development will consist
of single-family detached units such as estate homes, patio homes and
traditional housing sizes, which will span the $300,000 to $700,000 price
points, according to Enfinger. Some of those are being developed now.

The next 500 units will consist of condominiums, townhouses,
some lofts over the new retail establishments and possibly some age-restricted
housing, according to Enfinger.

“The 1,000 units we’re going to build doesn’t do much for
the commercial activity except create sort of a foundation,” Enfinger said.
“The commercial activity is part of all of south Huntsville.

“So, if south Huntsville doesn’t become part of the
commercial activity then it won’t be as successful.”

The development will have three parks: a 500-acre natural
park, similar to the Hays Nature Preserve; a new ballpark with soccer and
baseball/softball fields; and a city park, like Big Spring Park in downtown
Huntsville.

“We have a park system that I believe will be unrivaled by
any park system that I know of in my lifetime,” Enfinger said.

There are also plans to have an entertainment district set
up in the new development, possibly around the city park, but Enfinger said
most of the specifics were still yet to be determined.

“It was really a difficult decision for the family to decide
to let the farm go,” Jim Hays said.

“…But, it’s time. The community needs it; so it was time.”

Jim Hays talks about the history behind the land that will be used as greenspaces in the Hays Farm Development.

The answer to the long-asked question “What is going to happen with Haysland Square?” is finally provided.

Hays Farm, an 850-acre development, will soon be raised in South Huntsville after the 55-year-old shopping center is razed.

John Hays and Jeff Enfinger check out the plans for Hays Farm (Photo by Steve Babin)

Jim Hays, John Hays and Jeff Enfinger announced plans for the project which will include an entertainment district, nature preserve, homes, retail, restaurants, a dog park, sports fields and nearly 6 1/2 miles of walking trails.

“This land has meant so much to our family, generation after generation,” Enfinger said. “It has been a place where we’ve worked, played and grown as a family.”

The family has created communities around the county for decades and Enfinger said this is the “best and last” of the large communities they are planning.

“Our best and last large, master-planned community, … Hays Farm and its hundreds of acres of green space will now belong to our friends and neighbors in South Huntsville,” he told the Huntsville Business Journal during a tour of the project.

The project, which is currently under construction, will have about 110 acres of commercial development and 200 acres of residential, leaving about 540 acres for protected land. The development is estimated to provide a $450 million boost to the area.

“The Hays Farm project has the potential to transform the face of South Huntsville and bring vitality and excitement to South Parkway,”said Huntsville City Councilwoman Jennie Robinson, whose district includes the development. “It will add hundreds of acres of green space to the city as well as miles of trails and recreational amenities while preserving the natural beauty of the area.

“We applaud the Hays family for their vision and hope it will encourage others to reinvest in South Huntsville and improve the quality of life for the city as a whole.”

A centerpiece will be the 12-acre “city park” which will have a Town Center on Haysland Road featuring entertainment, restaurants and small shops. Enfinger said the park is similar in size to Big Spring Park in downtown Huntsville.

“It will be a Providence-type (development) between Hamilton Square and Grissom,” Enfinger said, referencing the west Huntsville development. “The park has a village green like Providence.”

Hays Farm will have three components, Enfinger said. There will be the community park, nature preserve and ballfields – a 20-acre recreation baseball/soccer complex operated by the city’s Parks and Recreation Department.

More than 1 million yards of dirt has been moved for the Hays Farm project. (Photo by Steve Babin)

Some 1,000 housing units will include single-family detached, townhouses and rental units. More than 500 single-family homes will range from $300,000 to $700,000. There are plans for 150 townhouse units and 350 multifamily rentals. Each neighborhood within Hays Farm will offer access to trails and an open space network that connects the community to all of Huntsville.

Haysland Road will also extend from South Memorial Parkway through the development to Hobbs Road, a couple hundred yards east of Redstone Arsenal’s Gate 3.

“The Haysland Road extension should be finished by September,” Enfinger said. “It goes through the series of lakes – wonderful scenery.”

Madison County Commissioner Phil Riddick, whose district includes south Huntsville, said Hays Farm is an exciting change and addition to the area.

“South Huntsville has not seen new development on this scale in decades. Not only is it substantial in size with greenways, new retail, restaurants and hundreds of new residences, but it will change the face of the community,”he said. “This will be something new and exciting, and will add a lifestyle flavor that we have not seen before in South Huntsville. It will foster further new development and will create a new demand for living in our area.

“We are so thrilled that the Hays Family has embarked on this development and are looking forward to it being completed.”

The developers and South Huntsville Business Association have scheduled a community meeting for 6 p.m. May 30 in the Grissom High School Auditorium.